“One of the most refreshing and intelligent evenings in Chicago. It’s unexpected, unvarnished and hilarious.”

“I had more than a blast. It was honor to meet so many great Chicagoans, it makes me proud to be a part of this city. Thanks for bringing me along for the ride.”

[UPDATE: Idea Potluck ran from 2011- 2018 and was retired after Number 51]

Idea Potluck is a potluck of ideas rather than food. It brings together several of Chicago’s best and brightest, funniest and handsomest, wittiest and engaging-est for an evening of rapid fire musings on whatever they choose to muse upon. Each pre-selected Dish does whatever he/she wants, for six-minutes. You as an audience member sit back and absorb, perhaps laugh and cry, definitely meet other awesome people.

Past Potlucks

Mac & Cheese is partnering with Center on Halsted for this event in an effort to support programming for our shared communities. Center on Halsted is the Midwest’s most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland. A portion of ticket proceeds will go to the Center.

Billy Banks, Entrepreneur, Professor, Father of triplets whose achilles heel is Cool Ranch Doritos and went from rocking the fast car to hustling his troops in a minivan | Twitter: @billybanks99 Instagram: @billybanks9

Val Groth, Executive Life Coach, Speaker, Author of The Power of the Possible: The Dire State of Inner City Education and One Woman’s Revolution to Fix It, Founder of Ryan Banks Academy | @valeriegroth

How can I speak at Potluck?

We have a long list of potential Dishes whom we’ve witnessed being awesome in real life. So if we’ve seen you out and about, doing your thing, sit tight; you might hear from us.

If we haven’t seen you being awesome, well, insert yourself in our world! Not by asking to be a Dish, but at the very least, coming to a Potluck to see the structure, the vibe, the awesomeness; intro yourself to us if you do! There are tons of other ways to be in our world besides Potluck as well, via other Mac & Cheese and TeamPete offerings. Come on out!